Spring Tip: What You NEED to Know About Sump Pumps!
I am Les Nelson, the master plumber at Universal Plumbing and Sewer, Inc. Often, I get calls late at night or early in the morning with a husband yelling in the background while the wife is on the phone trying to communicate their disaster. She’s often crying over family heirlooms and old pictures that are destroyed. The situation is always the same: water up to their ankles, ruined furnace, and last year's newly purchased water heater must be replaced. The carpet is ruined, and the paneling and drywall are destroyed. The sweet bar made for the man cave is soggy and will soon be invaded by mildew.
The real kicker is you probably don't have flood insurance; after all, you live in the Michigan tri-county area, and we don't flood much. At least, this is what your insurance company will tell you. I have found that most of the time, floods are caused by the homeowner wanting to save a few dollars. The average sump pump can last three to ten years. Trying to save money by not getting flood insurance and then trying to save money by not replacing a working sump pump that’s only manufactured to last three years can be a recipe for disaster. Customers often think, “Why replace it when it’s working now?”. The question is, is it? The first sign of failure is frequently that it’s not working. When the power goes out, the pump float gets stuck, or the motor goes wrong, it will stop removing stormwater from your basement. Once this happens, the water will find its way through floor drains, walls, and cracks.
The good news is that the whole situation can be avoided. Preventative maintenance, premium pumps, backup systems, and alarms can go a long way in preventing this disaster. Thousands of dollars and priceless heirlooms can be saved by following these simple steps.
#1 Replace Standard Sump Pumps Every Three to Five Years
Why wait until it breaks and becomes an emergency? Often, the cost of one emergency service call would cover half the cost of replacing it now. Plus, by scheduling the regular maintenance of the pump, you will avoid bailing your basement in the middle of the night or on a holiday. At Universal Plumbing And Sewer, Inc., all our trucks are fully stocked with standard pumps, a 3-year warranty, and our premium Zollers M63. The M63 has a 5-year warranty and provides a longer switch life. The green LED plug shows the homeowner that the pump is getting power. These premium pumps aren’t much more expensive and save the homeowner time and money.
#2 Install Backup Sump Pump System.
There are primarily two types of backup sump pump systems. With new technology, they have come a long way over the years, making them very reliable. At Universal Plumbing And Sewer, we stock the Liberty water-powered backup. It is the same one I have at my house. Where I live, we lose power a few times a year, and it has saved me many times. The water-powered backup pumps are more efficient than they used to be, draining 2 gallons of water for each 1 gallon used. If your home loses power or your primary pump fails, the water-powered backup pump will kick on automatically and continue to remove water from your sump pit. These are short-term solutions because removing 2 gallons of water from the pit takes a gallon of water. I prefer the water pump because it relies on your water pressure. This means it will continue to work through any power outage and shut off automatically when power is restored, and your primary pump is working correctly again. It works off your home’s natural water pressure; therefore, it can not be used if it is on a well. Another great option if you have a well is a battery backup. The battery backup requires a marine battery and is just as efficient at removing the water.
#3 Sump Pump Alarm System
Technology has produced a wide range of sump pump alarm systems. Essential, simple alarms make a loud noise to alert the homeowner of a higher-than-normal water level, and high-end alarms send out text messages and emails. We stock a variety of alarms and can help you decide on the one that is best for you. The best choice is often based on how frequently you travel away from the home, whether the basement is finished, and a few other factors. Depending on your preferences, these alarms can monitor the temperature of your home, the carbon dioxide level, and many other important home health indicators.
#4 Properly Store Valuables
Any valuables in a basement should be stored in waterproof bins on shelves at least three feet off the ground. We use the basement at our house as storage now as the kids are getting bigger. What once was a place to make a cool fort is now where we dump our junk because we can't part with it yet. The problem is we mean to get it later, but it never comes, then it's too late. If you are like me, buying or making shelving to hold all those cool things we value on a shelf is a good idea.
#5 Flood Insurance
It's worth it. Flood insurance could save you thousands in replacing your finished basement and appliances. Being prepared will drastically lower your chances of needing the insurance. But if something goes wrong, it always gives me peace of mind knowing it can all be replaced if required. It is also a great idea to include sewage backups in your plan.
As experts in our field, we would love to provide you with an education and options to protect your basement. Give us a call anytime to schedule an appointment.